Polyester is a commonly used fabric for clothing. We basically find it in slacks, formal dresses, or even with outerwear. There are different qualities of polyester.
Some are water resistant, some can stretch, and some resist shrinkage, while others are not. Yes, sometimes it is good to shrink your dresses. Clothes in the right size are perfect to go on with.
But some garments are sometimes too big to deal with. The only choice is to shrink it– especially when the fabric is polyester. Forget worrying! This article will help you know how does polyester shrink.
Washing & Drying Helps a Lot to Shrink Polyester Clothing
When it comes to shrinking clothes, washing them with hot water and drying it would be the best option. The shrinkage is even manageable according to the will through this process. Just follow these steps.
1. Turn the Clothing Inside Out With Care
First, turn your dress inside out to avoid discoloration. Heat might damage the fabric’s color or give it a shabby look. So it is better to complete this step.
Also, try to gather clothing with the same color if you want to shrink more than one piece of clothing simultaneously.
2. Give it a Wash Cycle With Hot Water
Put the dress in the washing machine and give it a wash cycle. Not necessarily, but you can add a little detergent powder if you want to. But before you do this, turn the heat up to the maximum temperature. Keep this important point in mind to know how does polyester shrink.
Keep the temperature low if you want only a little shrinkage. And it is better to choose the long wash cycle for better results.
3. Put it in the Dryer Straight Away
After you finish washing, transfer the garments to the dryer. But do maintain safety first. Let the cloth cool down, and then touch it. Now adjust the heat of the dryer based on your necessity.
Choosing the long cycle again might be the best fit. Remember, more heat and time results in more shrinkage. Still, keep an eye on the quality throughout the process.
Does Polyester Shrink Using a Flat Iron?
Yes, it does. Apart from making your clothing look perfect and wrinkle-free, you can use irons to shrink polyester clothes with extra heat.
1. First, Empty the Pockets on Your Garment Properly
Remove all kinds of stuff from the pockets of your clothing to avoid any issues. You would never want to end up ironing a strawberry candy along with your shirt, right? It will hamper the clothing and the iron or the washing machine.
2. Wash it With Cold/Hot Water
Put your clothing in the washing machine and give it a wash cycle. It is only sometimes necessary to hit the water up for this method, but you can do it based on your desired shrinkage. As mentioned earlier, more heat equals possible shrinkage.
3. Lay it on the Iron Table
Once you have done the washing, place it on your iron table. But wait to start ironing right after that. First, cover it with a cold piece of ironing cloth. Make sure it covers your clothing totally, as it will save the clothing from getting damaged.
4. Iron it in Low or Medium Temperature
Start pressing the cold price of clothing with the iron in low or medium heat. Here high heat is not necessary at all. High heat will either burn the cloth accidentally or make it stiff. Keep pressing until dry. Now cool down all the clothing when you finish and repeat the whole process if needed.
Using Boiling Water for Shrinking Polyester Clothing
Boiling water is another alternative to lean on how does polyester shrink!
1. Turn the Clothing Inside Out With Care
Like the other methods, turn your clothing inside out to prevent the color from fading.
2. Pour Water into a Boiling Pot and Boil
Now pour more than a little water into a boiling pot and bring it to a boil. Choose a large enough pot so your garment can submerge deep and move easily in the water.
3. Wet Your Clothing With Cold Water
Make sure to get your garment before you put it in the boiling water. You can soak it with normally cold water or wash it in the washing machine with hot water. You can do this the way prefer.
4. Place it inside the Boiling Pot
Carefully dip the wet clothing in the boiling water and wait to see the magic. The size of your clothing determines the heat of the boiling water. If the garment is small or you want only a little shrinkage, a little heat is enough.
In case of a big garment or more shrinkage, you should keep the temperature high and keep the garment in the water for a long time.
It is better to keep an eye on the garment and move it from time to time while boiling it. Handle the whole process with extra care, as this boiling water can be dangerous and cause burns.
5. Take it Out And Cool it Down
In the end, take it out of the water and let it cool down. Repeat the process if you need more shrinkage or put the clothing in the dryer. Look for the results after it is totally cold.
So now you know what to say if anyone asks, “Does polyester shrink or not?” You even know several methods too. So do not get distressed if you happen to buy oversized polyester clothing. Just apply any of the methods you learned and be benefitted.
But there is a possibility of overdoing it. Once shrunk, the cloth cannot be brought back to the previous size. You might get hurt too. So always stay conscious about what you are doing and how you are doing.
